Rubio urges Qatar on mediation role

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Qatar yesterday to ask it to stay on as Gaza mediator, hoping to reassure the Gulf ally a week after Israeli air strikes targeted Hamas leaders in the emirate.

- 

Rubio, who landed in Qatar as Israel carried out major new strikes in Gaza, was pessimistic about a ceasefire deal but said Qatar was in a unique position to help.

"We're going to ask Qatar to continue to do what they've done and we appreciate very much, and that is, play a constructive role in trying to bring this to an end," Rubio told reporters as he flew out of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport to Doha.